Miraphone Tuba Quartett (France)

''We first met in 1992 at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de PARIS.
Our initial friendship was followed by a mutual passion for music and our pleasure to play together soon led to the creation of  a tuba quartet which was to become 3 years later , at Miraphone's request, the Miraphone Tuba Quartett.
For 16 years now we've been striving to change the image of out instrument throughout the world. During our concerts we aim to ally virtuosity humour and musicality.
With 3 CDs and more than 250 concerts performed in 17 different countries, we celebrate our 15 years of existence with (and we are very proud of this) the four same members.''

• From 9 till 21 December 2013 China and Taiwan tour  
More HERE

Bala Brass (USA)

The award-winning Bala Brass thrills audiences around the globe with their infectious spirit, daring and exciting programming, and exceptional performances. A brass quintet dedicated to furthering the art of brass music performance, Bala was the first group of its kind to be invited to participate in the 2002 Osaka International Chamber Music Festa in Osaka, Japan. The Boston area chamber ensemble was also awarded the bronze medal at the 2001 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, as well as being honored as a finalist in the 2001 Coleman Chamber Music Competition.

In their efforts to promote the brass ensemble genre, Bala enjoys collaborations with a diverse group of composers and artists and actively commissions new works. Recent commissions and world premiers include Robert Bradshaw’s Revealed, Norman Bolter’s Shorelight Breeze, Whitman Brown's Knuckleball, and Jeremy Spindler's As It Went By. Many of these works have been premiered at the International Trumpet Guild Conferences (2006, 2009, 2012) and the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference (2008).

 

Bala is excited to be heading into the studio for their debut CD recording on the Beauport Classical label. This summer Bala will travel to the University of South Carolina’s campus to record a CD of exciting brass music. The CD will include premiere recordings of works by Dana Wilson, Robert Bradshaw, and Laurence Bitensky.

More HERE

Trumpets Not Guns (New Orleans USA)

Our Mission:
To help preserve the culture of traditional jazz and to enrich the lives of children through music, not violence, by providing musical instruments to the youth of the City of New Orleans.

With an array of support from the community, our local jazz artists, and The Grillot Family, we plan to raise money musically, to help get guns out of the hands of our youth and replace them with trumpets and other musical instruments.

Our goal is to help local schools and other music foundations get the instruments that are so badly needed into the hands of our children. Get the guns out, put the trumpets in, and take back our streets one horn at a time.
More info HERE.

Riverside Brass Quintet (UK)

The Riverside Brass Quintet is an experienced brass ensemble who offer a diverse range of genres, suitable for any occasion: whether it be playing at parties or corporate events, to classical wedding music (not to mention a selection of current/jazz tunes) and even an exciting Christmas entertainment package which they run annually from November-December, Riverside Brass Quintet have it covered!

'So, if you’re looking for corporate party ideas, to hire musicians, or just check out one of the latest live bands in London, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We hope you’ll enjoy having a look around!'
The music is HERE.

Westwind Brass (USA)

The Westwind Brass exists to broaden and enrich the musical legacy of local, national and international audiences through performance and educational services featuring brass instruments and music.
The Westwind Brass fields an ensemble of brass musicians who perform in various configurations of musicians featuring the unique timbre of brass instruments and performing the brass repertoire at a high artistic level.
The educational focus of each Westwind Brass performance is that music is for everyone!

Westwind goes to school

Around the World thru Brass (K-6)

This program is a multi-cultural musical journey through selected cultures. These selections include: Music of Africa, Music of Americas, Northern Native Americans, Central and South America; Music of Asia, China, and Music of Europe. The purpose of this program is to expose students to the distinct sounds of the world of music and how these musical characteristics have been incorporated into modern forms. Students will directly participate in various world rhythms, melodies, and styles.
More HERE

Alison Balsom

Alison Balsom has cemented an international reputation as one of classical music's great ambassadors and is ranked among the most distinctive and ground-breaking musicians on the international circuit today. Having headlined The Last Night of the BBC Proms, which reached its biggest ever global television audience of an estimated 200 million, to making her US television debut with the Orchestra of St Luke's on The Late Show with David Letterman, a platform few classical artists have gained access to, Alison’s highly distinctive sound has earned her much recognition and she is regarded as one of the world's leading trumpeters and musicians. She was twice crowned 'Female Artist of the Year' at the Classic BRITs and has also been honoured with numerous awards by Gramophone, Classic FM and ECHO Klassik.

On June 28 this year, she received the prestigious PPL Classical Award at the London Hilton on Park Lane.  

Read more HERE

Alison's website is HERE

The Art of Practicing

The Art of Practicing

Gordon Cherry

Practicing is an art, not a skill. A skill is something you can be taught in a certain number of lessons, while an art is something you learn slowly and gradually over your entire life. Whether you are a sculptor, a painter, a ballerina or a trombonist, you have to apply discipline in order to progress. The art of practicing is something you adhere to for a very, very long time, and you must master it to become a great performer.

Most people look back on the lessons they had with their teachers and find that 99% of the time was spent on the traditional warm ups, etudes, solos and excerpts. You're basically taught how to play the trombone. We haven't really learned how to practice! And yet that's what we spend most of our time doing. We practice. We practice before rehearsals. We practice before concerts. We practice in the studio. The practice time is where you “make your gravy.” It's where you make all your gains. Much of the time students and even professionals waste time or actually destroy themselves in the practice room. Why? Because they are impatient and look for short term gains.
Read the whole article...

Da Capo Brass (USA)

Based in North Carolina, da Capo Brass is a national touring ensemble and Delos recording artist dedicated to delivering quality chamber music to diverse audiences. Performing standard repertoire ranging from Classical to Jazz, Renaissance to Modern, and Pops to Gospel, da Capo Brass also enjoys collaborating with talented composers to create new music for the brass quintet medium. The members of da Capo Brass believe in removing boundaries between the concert performer and audiences, and therefore seek out performance experiences beyond traditional concert halls, with venues including churches, art museums, clubs, and public schools. In addition to their active concert schedule, members of the quintet perform internationally as soloists and in conjunction with professional  organizations in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. They hold teaching positions at various colleges and academies in North Carolina and perform with orchestras across the East Coast.

New Music

In addition to performing standard repertoire, da Capo Brass enjoys collaborating with talented composers to create new music for the brass quintet medium.More info HERE

Bone Brass (Holland)

The origin of BoneBrass:
The Dutch chamber music ensemble, BoneBrass, is formed by the trombone players, Jan Bults, Gert van Veldhuizen,  Jan Jager and Wessel Bruggink. BoneBrass originated in their cooperation over the years in different ad-hoc orchestras. In the autumn of 1997 they decided to prolong this cooperation in the form of an ensemble. It was their ambition to promote the trombone as a vocal solo instrument for a bigger audience, especially lovers of chamber music who are less familiar with this genre. 
Even after these many years of making music together they are still motivated by the challenge to promote the trombone. They especially try to demonstrate the ‘vocal’ qualities of the instrument. In doing so their stage varies from theatres, castles, concert halls and gardens to churches. Occasionally BoneBrass can be seen in recording studios.

The repertoire of BoneBrass consist of about 50 compositions, from the renaissance to contemporary music. Composers are, Gabriëli, Speer, Preatorius, Franck, Bruckner, Telemann, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Handel, Bach, Beethoven, Grieg, Koetsier, Papandopulo, Bozza, Gershwin, Puccini, Holst, Carmichael, Elings, Agrell, Joplin, Doms, Mucke, Bummerl, Slabak, Franckenpohl, Wood, en Saint Saens.
The music is HERE.

Molotov Brass (Switzerland)

The story of Molotow Brass Orkestar starts somewhere in foggy November 2007 at the Bern University of the Arts (HKB). A handful of classical of students studying classical music looking for a break of the classical concert schedules assembled and started to play Balkan folk music. After a short time today‘s six-piece band Molotow Brass Orkestar was born.

The band developped quite fast. Backed by their powerful lady on Drums, Marianne Graber, the five horn blowers started to mix whatever style of music they liked. Thus Molotow’s unique mix of Balkan and Swiss Folk music showing influences of klezmer, ska or even electronic beats started to emerge. Combined with their catching vitality they soon persuaded every kind of audience to cheer for them. Invitations to renowned festivals where coming in soon.

In the last couple of years, Molotow Brass Orkestar played at Brass: Durham International Festival in England, Lucerne Festival, European Brass Band Championships, or at the Fêtes de Genève. Other whereabouts are Bierhübeli Bern, Abart Club Zürich, Buskers Lugano, Buskers Neuchâtel, Stadtspektakel Landshut to name only a few. The band can be found on the soundtracks of three movies and has been featured on radio on at least three continents.
More HERE

It Takes Brass to Play the Wagner Tuba

By
• BARBARA JEPSON

When Richard Wagner began composing "The Ring of the Nibelung," his visionary opera cycle, he became dissatisfied with a particular musical theme. The solution, he decided, was not to rewrite the passage but to foster the creation of a new instrument to perform it—the Wagner tuba.

Because of its range and mouthpiece, this tuba-shaped hybrid is actually played by members of the French horn section, but never mind. Developed at Wagner's request at a time when the technical capabilities of modern brass instruments were being expanded, it enabled him to fill a gap in tone color between the mellow lyricism of the horns and the penetrating brilliance of the trombones. He was inspired, in part, by the gradation of sound in military bands. In the "Ring," four Wagner tubas join an enlarged brass section that includes other orchestral rarities like the bass trumpet, contrabass trombone and contrabass tuba, creating "choirs" of gleaming brass.
These instruments play an important role in the "Ring," an epic tale of greed, revenge, love and redemption that will be presented around the globe this year during the bicentenary of Wagner's birth. In the U.S., the first complete, four-opera cycle will begin on April 6 at the Metropolitan Opera with a reprise of the Robert Lepage production. Throughout the "Ring," the brass are associated with some of the major recurring musical themes, called "leitmotifs"—leading motives linked to particular characters, concepts, props and more.

Read the full article: Wall Street Journal

Royal Danish Brass (Denmark)

The Royal Danish Orchestra is considered the oldest orchestra of it's kind, tracing its origins back to 1448 and the Trumpet Corps at the royal court of King Christian I, who was crowned to an accompaniment of brass and percussion instruments. The Danish name for the orchestra - Det Kongelige Kapel - reveals that it was, in origin, an ensemble geared to supplying the music for court events, such as providing musical assistance to a visiting Italian opera company.

It was in this context that the renowned musician Christoph Willibald Gluck not only led the Royal Danish Orchestra, but also composed the music for special occasions – a notable example being the celebration of the birth, in 1749, of the later King Christian VII.

Over the years, the orchestra moved out of the court and settled down in the pit at the Royal Danish Theatre. A growing number of engagements saw an increase in the size of the orchestra, and when Johan Gottlieb Naumann carried out his reforms in the 1780’s, the ensemble numbered 46 members. It is relevant to mention here that it was at precisely this time that the Chorus of the Royal Danish Opera became permanently assigned to the Royal Danish Theatre.

Royal Danish Brass was founded in 1977 under the name The Royal Orchestra Brass Quintet. Five young brass players from The Royal Danish Orchestra, trumpeters Ketil Christensen and Søren Emtoft, hornist Poul-Erik Vilsbæk and trombonists Keld Jørgensen and Mogens Andresen, stated as an objective of the ensemble: the ancient traditions of open-minded and contemporary orchestrations, interpretations and versions retaining old music and in close collaboration with composers and colleagues, exploring new avenues in music under strict conditions of quality in every way.
Royal Danish Brass is THE Danish brass ensemble par excellence, with a high degree of musicality. There are concerts, church concerts, school concerts and 'clinics' and 'master classes' regularly.

More info HERE

da Blechhauf'n (Austria)

da Blechhauf'n

is a group of seven guys, who got together to predominantly play traditional Austrian but also progressive music to entertain their listeners.
Generally, it's all about brass, however trying out numerous other genres manifests itself as a new musical tradition in brass performance, making the unforeseeable foreseeable.
When listening to them, they encourage you to allow yourself to enter into the variety and diversity of sound, word, dance and comedy, and to experience
the charm of modern tradition!

For the tuba player

For free: Brass Music Online

BonaNZa (New Zealand)

BonaNZa is made up of five professional trombone players from throughout NZ, representing the Auckland Philharmonia, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and the Vector Wellington Orchestra. The members enjoy playing varying styles of music and performing in diverse places, from inside trains, busking in the coromandel or the top of the Sky Tower, to a band rotunda tour of the South Island. Bonanza played to 150,000 people at the 2009 Startlight Symphony as soloists with the Auckland Philharmonia, a world record for a trombone ensemble (unofficial but probable…)
More HERE

Vienna Horns

"Director's Cut" is the title of the CD featuring the twelve horn players that caused worldwide bafflement and amazement with their Vienna horns. This time they have not produced Viennese sounds, but well-known and legendary themes from soundtracks such as Bernhard Hermann's music for Alfred Hitchcock's "Torn Curtain" as well as scores from contemporary films such as Patrick Doyle's "Harry Potter".

The ingenious arrangements for the Vienna horns are made by Alexander Wagendristel. The conductor of the recordings is Alois Glaßner. 

More info HERE

Triton Brass Quintet (USA)

Triton Brass is an exciting musical collaborative comprising five of the region's most promising young talents. Prize winners at the 2005 Lyon International Chamber Music Competition and 2003 Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition, Triton is in its fourth year as artists-in-residence at The Boston Conservatory, where the group serves as both performers and instructors, and are proud to be faculty and co-hosts for the Atlantic Brass Quintet International Seminar. Triton Brass also served as chamber music faculty at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute from 2005-2010.
Among its recent performances, Triton has performed as soloists with the Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble, the new music ensemble Alea III, and the Concord Band, and as a headline performer for an WGBH outdoor concert in front of more that 30,000 audience members. Fervent supporters of new music, the quintet has performed multiple world premieres in recitals throughout the U.S. and maintains an ongoing "call-for-scores" open to all composers and collaborators.
The Quintet performs extensively in numerous capacities, including recitals, educational concerts and residencies, formal affairs, and collaborative endeavors.
Listen HERE and HERE 

Sonus Brass (Austria)

Many enthusiastic reviews in music magazine prove that Sonus Brass Ensemble, founded in 1994, has become one of the most active, intriguing, and innovative brass ensembles in Austria. In classical brass instrumentation consisting of 2 trumpets, bugle, trombone, and tuba the five musicians demonstrate a tremendous musical scope ranging from early to contemporary music and comprising original as well as cover versions. They have received international recognition for their numerous music appreciation projects:
 “Rocky Roccoco”
 "The Brass Workers"
 "The Emperors new Cloths"
"Don Quichotte and friends":

The second part of the concert consists of the play “Don Quichotte, clownish comedy”.

Plot:
The play starts with Sancho Panza’s initial complaint, “I’ve been serving my master Don Quichotte for 17 years now! Pha! But what does he amount to without me his loyal squire?! Of course, in our play, Sancho Pansa will kill the dragon for his master. And Don Quichotte will be refused by Dulcinea, and there will be fierce battles between Don Quichotte and the windmills of La Mancha. In our version of this classic there will even be casualties, but in the end director Markus Kupferblum brings all the dead characters back to life, Don Quichotte will certainly have a happy end with his beloved Dulcinea, and Rosinante gets…. let’s not divulge all the surprises!

Lets go to Sonus Brass 

Phil's Old and Odd Brass Collection (USA)

Phil's"OldandOdd" Brass Musical Instrument Gallery!

 "Tornister"  Tenor Tuba by Cervany c.1900

This is a beautiful small Tenor Tuba or Baritone  in Bb made by Cervany primarily for the military. It is called a "Tornister" or "Rucksack" baritone. The advantage of such a small horn is obvious- it can be easily carried on a long march in a soldier-musician's backback. It is 16 1/2" lng (42cm) and has a bell 6 7/8" (17.5cm) in diameter. Note the unique design feature which has the leadpipe coming from the side opposite the bell. It is a nearly identical companion to my tiny Tornister Tuba which is only slightly larger.  The label  is written: CERVANY & SOHNNE - ZUKUNIGGRATZ IN BOHMEN.   This baritone and my Tornister Tuba were both lovingly restored by Dick Hansen in Massachusetts. They both play amazingly well for such small horns.
More old instruments HERE

Brass Ambassadors (USA)

Established in 1982 and comprised of five brass instrumentalists, the Brass Ambassadors have performed throughout the Midwestern United States for military functions, public concerts, recitals, and school clinics. Led by Musician Second Class David Paff, this ensemble performs musical styles such as classical compositions, Dixieland and march arrangements.

Navy Band Great Lakes' Mission
"Pride in Service" has been the theme for Navy Band Great Lakes for more than a century. From 1911, when the band first formed, to 1917, when Lieutenant Commander John Philip Sousa served as Bandmaster, to today's Director, Lieutenant Patrick K. Sweeten, our music represents the pride and professionalism that is synonymous with the United States Navy.
Click HERE

The Bay Brass (USA)

Formed in 1995, The Bay Brass, is comprised of a cooperative of players from the San Francisco Bay Area's leading performing organizations including the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, and Symphony Silicon Valley. The aim of the group is to present both large-scale symphonic brass ensemble works and compositions for smaller combinations of players in acoustics which complement the wonderful sound of brass. In addition, The Bay Brass programs concerts of remarkable diversity, combining the traditional brass repertory with jazz and other contemporary styles, including the works of some of today's most influential composers.
More info HERE

Belgian Brass (Belgium)

Belgian Brass were formerly the Belgian Brass Soloists quintet until artistic director Manu Mellaerts launched the idea of bringing together a larger, more all-round group of musicians with a view to enhancing this ensemble’s artistic scope. Thanks to this ‘new concept’, it was possible to achieve a more dynamic reach and a larger artistic colour pallet. Owing to the extra dynamism and the artistic expansion, Belgian Brass has developed into a first-class ensemble with flexibility and virtuosity as its main trademarks. By adding the rhythm section to the classical brass tentet, Belgian Brass is ready at all times to tackle the most diverse of compositions. It is mainly its own musicians who adapt pieces in diverse music styles, playing to Belgian Brass’s specific strength. In doing so, they always show the greatest respect for the original score and set great store by a distinctly symphonic sound ideal. All Belgian Brass programmes offer a subtle and balanced mix of the most diverse music genres which the eminent musicians – thanks to years of experience – have at their finger tips: the baroque, via renaissance, through to contemporary classical music and even big band. Belgian Brass manages to appeal to every kind of audience.

Boston Brass (USA)

Boston Brass has been featured on The CBS Early Show, National Public Radio'sPerformance Today, The Great American Brass Band Festival and has recorded several diverse albums. Latin Nights, their latest offering, features a collection of some of the greatest classical and jazz works by Latin composers and performers and features the legendary drummer Steve Gadd, the beautiful voice of Talita Real, percussion and guitar. Other albums include Ya Gotta Try, featuring music from Horace Silver, Chick Corea and Dizzy Gillespie, produced by legendary jazz recording genius Rudy van Gelder andWithin Earshot, featuring classical works by Shostakovich, Ginastera, Dvorak, Liszt and others. 

2011 marked the 25th Anniversary of Boston Brass and was celebrated with the "25 Fanfares Project," wherein 25 fanfares were premiered by composers from all over the country.  Boston Brass also premiered a new major commission by noted wind ensemble composer Brian Balmages and new arrangements by the legendary Sam Pilafian. Additionally, Boston Brass was very excited to have the opportunity to collaborate in the 2010/2011 season with the fabulous Imani Winds in a program entitled "Sketches of Spain," featuring the music of Miles Davis and Gil Evans. In the 2012/2013 season the quintet begins touring their "Notes from the Balcony" program with the  Enso String Quartet. The program features music based on "Romeo and Juliet"

MP3: Wave (vocalist: Talita Real)

Tim Zimmerman and The Kings Brass (USA)

 

Tim Zimmerman and The King's Brass present hymn classics with a contemporary

flair.  The King's Brass features three trumpets, three trombones, a tuba, percussion and keyboards.  These instruments blend together to create a time of innovative worship that will be enjoyed by all generations.

Secular and sacred music critics alike applaud their concerts as "superb in every way" and "innovative and well played."  "Truly, an unforgettable experience!"

The King’s Brass, formed three decades ago, is comprised of professional musicians from across the country, who desire to use the instruments they love to lead others in praise and worship.

This year the group will be celebrating their 35^th Anniversary Tour.  As a result, The King’s Brass will be introducing their sixteenth recording titled “The Best of Tim Zimmerman and The King’s Brass – The First 35 Years.”  This CD, released on the Summit Records label www.summitrecords.com, features the groups favorites from their past CD releases as well as three new bonus selections.

Harlequin Brass (UK)

Harlequin Brass are the North of England's premier 10-piece brass ensemble. Based in Yorkshire, the group has gained respect throughout the country and further afield with its commitment to musical excellence as well as variety and entertainment.

The quality of the ensemble has been widely recognised with regular broadcasts on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4, Classic FM and even on National Television including an appearance on BBC Television's 'Songs of Praise" and in the Morrison's Christmas advertising campaign for two years running. The ensemble also have the honour of being the first British Brass Ensemble to perform in the world famous Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. They recently appeared at the Victoria Hall in Stoke as part of Gospel Spectacular which saw them perform alongside the biggest names in gospel, the LCGC and ACM choirs.

Harlequin Brass received the award of 'Record of the Year' from Classic FM Magazine for their second CD 'Music for a Millennium'

A concert from Harlequin Brass may take you through the ages of Classical Music, through to Ragtime, Blues, Jazz and Popular Music, and across the seas to the music of France and Spain, or even Mexico and Argentina!

Click here for the Harlequin Presentation Video

Flip Oakes Wild Thing™

With over 45 years of playing experience, Flip Oakes has designed a trumpet that surpasses all others. All Flip Oakes “C” trumpets and Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb trumpets are made to enhance the sound and style you, the player choose to express. Each Wild Thing Trumpet, Cornet, and Flugelhorn is intricately set up by Flip Oakes personally, to ensure accuracy and the best in consistency and quality.

Flip proud to introduce the Copper bell Wild Thing™ Trumpets. The copper bells give the horns a warmer, and more “Ah” sound really more like “Awe“… Whereas a brass bell, has more of a “eh“, or “e” sound .
The copper belled instruments are the most ideal, and suited for ‘The SOLOISTS, or ARTIST’. In Jazz they are most sought after. Their sound just has more character to it…

More info HERE

Thank you Flip very much for all your help and patience, but most of all for designing such Incredible Instruments, to make my job easier, and more enjoyable.
Sincerely,
Frank Glasson
Professional Classical & Jazz Trumpet Player and Teacher
San Diego, CA.

Onyx Brass (UK)

Onyx Brass is one of the rare breed of chamber ensembles whose musical and technical virtuosity is matched by the accessibility and vitality of their presentation. Their mission is to have their extraordinary abilities at the disposal of the music at all times, and to play music of the requisite quality to reflect the status of the brass quintet as a serious medium for chamber music. The richness and warmth of their sound is remarked upon by all who hear them.

"One of Britain's classiest brass acts...stands apart from the rest of the field...holds its own as one of the finest brass groups in the country...audience enjoyment is paramount....If you ever see a concert by Onyx advertised, it is certainly worth a visit to listen to this energetic and dynamic brass group, which is busy attracting audiences to the genre of new brass music." (British Bandsman magazine, England)

More info HERE 

Bozen Brass (Italy)

Bozen Brass is not limited to one specific musical style. There repertoire goes from "baroque to blues" and lets them reach a broad audience.

They are perfectly able to offer this broad range in music even with genuine instruments fitting the time, the piece of music was composed. Music from baroque, renaissance and opera, presented in a black suit, is a reference to the classic musical education.

But five brass instruments are made for even more. Courageously and unconventially they switch to jazz, pop and rock, making appear stars such as Sting or Michael Jackson on stage.

The ultimate kick comes from time to time when Robert Neumair takes his seat behind the drumset.

Alpine brass songs are also part of their repertoire, just like a polka with vocals or a solo by Robert Neumair and his accordion.

A lot of pieces are especially written or arranged for Bozen Brass. Robert Neumair is the most busy composer, but Anton Ludwig Wilhalm is also responsible for some arrangements.

Bavarian Brass (Germany)

BAVARIAN BRASS was founded in 1994 by four trumpeters, connecting artistic training on their instrument. After a short time, organ and timpani joined more than "royal" instruments of the ensemble and led it to its "massive tonal splendor," as one reviewer put it.

Bavaria Brass is one of the few formations in this occupation and has performed with many baroque playfulness and musicality at home and abroad. Also on nationwide radio station the bright trumpets, majestic organ and timpani sounds pompous of the ensemble are sent.

The emphasis in church music concerts of the six friends lies in the interpretation of original trumpet parts of Baroque organ with an adapted voice. Here you let them lead and inspired that editing your own or other works in the age of Johann Sebastian Bach was a widely practiced custom.
It is also BAVARIAN BRASS but also a concern to demonstrate the versatility of today's Trumpets by arranging very different music from different eras.

Bertrand Moren with Brass Band 13 Etoiles (Switzerland)

Concert played by "Brass Band 13 Etoiles" in Switzerland. The work performed is "The Flying slide" (Ethan Thompson).  Soloist: Bertrand Moren.

His first musical beginnings made ​​Bertrand with six years on the piano and the cornet. From the piano he was thrilled from the moment, certainly thanks to his parents, who had always motivated and inspired him. The cornet, however, was not the instrument that could cause enthusiasm in him. At the age of 8 years and when he was still a student of the School of Music at Concordia Vétroz, he decided, inspired by his father to switch to the trombone. With this instrument he had to immediately play its fun and over twenty years later, Bertrand still has the same joy.

The first trombone lessons were taught to him by his father Géo-Pierre Moren. He proved to be particularly challenging, either on technical or on the musical level. The results were not as long in coming: Bertrand has received numerous Swiss league titles and prices, especially on the Swiss music competition for young people.

He also played in numerous musical groups and the Brass Band Treize Etoiles, where he is principal trombonist today.

After his graduation in 1995 he decided to study music. He had the privilege of private lessons with the greats of this instrument to visit, especially Branimir Slokar and Dany Bonvin. Bertrand studied for several years at the Conservatory in Geneva. In June 1999, Bertrand received the certificate of the College of Music.

Bertrand also had the pleasure to play with the orchestra of the Conservatory of Geneva, various chamber ensembles, brass quintets and other formations trombone. However, his preference is clearly the brass band formations.

More info HERE and HERE.

Naval Academy Band Brass Ensemble (USA)

The Brass Ensemble is made up of personnel from the concert band. The ensemble performs on a regular basis throughout the year and has appeared at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, the Naval Academy Chapel, Towson University, Gordon Center for the Performing Arts, and the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore.  In recent years, the ensemble has performed under the batons of Murray Sidlin, David Hickman, Ernie Green, Gene Young, and the late Milt Stevens, and has collaborated with world-renowned organist Monte Maxwell.  The Brass Ensemble performs original works for brass, orchestral transcriptions, and arrangements by ensemble members.  Under the direction of Chief Musician John Babcock, the Naval Academy Band Brass Ensemble takes pride in preserving the rich heritage of brass music while embracing and promoting new music in a meaningful and entertaining manner suitable for all audiences.

More to see HERE

International Brass Interpretation Contest (Ro)

In 2013 the nongovernmental Association, Romanian Brass Society aims to organize the fourth edition of the contest, which will take place in three stages with a selected jury of personalities from the field. 

The competition is organized together with the Faculty of Music, University of West Timisoara.

In the third stage performers will be accompanied by the orchestra. We believe that in this edition as the previous ones, will participate talented young people from our country and abroad.
More info HERE

Broken Brass (NL)

Broken Brass Ensemble combines the traditional New Orleans brass with hiphop, balkan, funk, fanfare (and much more) into a blazing mixture of energy. The eight BBE members are all very young and talented musicians who combine swinging brass with tight percussion. All their work are originals, though the band isn't ashamed to rock the audience with a surprising cover every now and then. 
http://www.brokenbrassensemble.nl/
From Holland with love.

The Brazz Brothers

Well, now that we're in Norway, here is a video of the Brazz Brothers from Norway. A unique style and interpretation of brass music. 

More to see HERE

tenThing (NO)

 tenThing

Formed in 2007 by Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth, tenThing are rapidly establishing themselves on the international scene.

Tine and three trumpet playing friends were watching a string orchestra play and wanted to be able to recreate that level of ensemble playing, while exploring great repertoire, for a brass group. Looking to keep things interesting, and since the four trumpeters happened to all be girls, they decided to keep the group all female.

tenThing work very closely with Norwegian guitarist and arranger Jarle G. Storløkken who arranges all the groups music. Having such a close relationship enables the ensemble to play the music they want to play, no matter what the piece was originally composed for.

More HERE

Fine Arts Brass (UK)

Fine Arts Brass is now in its thirtieth year and firmly established at the forefront of the international brass chamber music scene. Originally formed in 1980, the ensemble took the name of the place of its first rehearsal, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts at Birmingham University. The group’s enduring success is due to its uncanny chameleon-like adaptability to different audience requirements. These can range from educational concerts for primary school children to broadcasts suitable for BBC Radios 2, 3 or 4. With the combination of their unique versatility of sound, eminent humour and passion for the music they play, it is easy to see why they have toured to over 60 countries and performed in just about every music festival in the UK.

Their repertoire is as comprehensive a s you would expect from such artists, encapsulating all musical genres from the Renaissance and Baroque to the sound worlds of the avant garde. Equally, when they play Swing, they swing!

They also have a penchant for commissioning new works (over 50 to date) and have enjoyed working closely with the composers who have written for them: Malcolm Arnold, Robin Holloway, Michael Nyman, John Woolrich & Michael Torke to name but a few. Their discography is no less impressive with a selection of 28 recordings to date with more planned! In the words of Classical Music Magazine, they are simply “Exceptional”. FAB receives financial support from the PRS Foundation and is proud to be associated with Smith-Watkins trumpets and Nimbus Records.

http://www.fineartsbrass.co.uk/